A MONTH LATER
Valerie's POV
Life is about turning on different roads and choosing to either face the rock of reality or not.
This is reality.
That was the word I wrote down in the dressing room before coming out here to face my reality.
This isn't what I have always dreamt of. This is the opposite of what I want for myself and my future.
I am a strong believer in love, probably because I have experienced love in beautiful souls. I never believed in getting married out of love but here I am doing that one thing I never believed in or never knew existed.
Dazed, I let the sound of applause get drowned in my head as I approach the arbor where the groom of the day is awaiting me.
His name is Ryan and I am going to be his bride today. Not because we love each other but for different reasons and goals.
I want my father to be back on his feet. I want him to return to that confident, strong man he used to be and I also want my revenge on Fred and Brenda.
I am not doing this because I want our financial status to go back to the way it used to be but I guess wanting to help my father recover his business will lead to that which is why my mother is all smiles.
I do not believe that money solves it all.
For Fred and Brenda, this is just the beginning. I am going to make sure that they come begging me with their knees, seeking my forgiveness.
What other life would a woman want other than being married to a billionaire? Not just a billionaire, but the youngest billionaire in the city?
This is my revenge tactic.
Fred would be shocked. Brenda would be caught unawares and I will make sure to make their life a living hell.
The thought of my revenge alone makes me giddy with excitement. It makes me happier than the fact that my father would be happy to have his business back and become partners with the Lorenzos.
I might be lost in my thoughts but I am alert. My eyes are interlocked with Ryan's as I carefully step toward him.
Ever since the date, Ryan and I haven't met and I am sure he will be so surprised to see my real face and that is if he hasn't gone on social media out of curiosity to check me out.
I almost laugh out loud.
I might be getting married to him but I feel like a genius and a boss.
There are two bosses on a ship. I won't let him order me around like some illiterate woman.
That was why I brought up the idea of a contract marriage which would be signed tonight after the wedding ceremony is over.
He might be making the rules but I have my plans for him too.
When I am close by, I flash him one of my cutest smiles but his face is hardened without a smile.
I raise the middle hem of my white wedding dress, the transparent veil still covering my face and my kinky hair with decorative braids and curls.
Careful not to step on the dress, I take one more step closer to him and face him squarely before dropping my dress.
The little bride beside me passes the wedding flower to me and I take it.
The applause dies down and everyone sits before the priest moves closer to us with a lingering smile on his face.
I have no bridesmaid and no maid of honor because Brenda is the only female friend I have while Fred is the only male friend that I have. They have other friends too and we hang out together but now that I am no longer friends with Brenda and Fred, then it means I am no longer friends with their friends and that means I have no friends.
I can't spot Ryan's best man either and I wonder if he is doing this because I have no maid of honor or it is because he doesn't have a friend either.
"Dear beloved", the priest begins, jerking me out of my reverie and making me fix my gaze on Ryan instead of glancing around.
"We are gathered here today to join Ryan Lorenzo and Valerie Adams in Holy matrimony before God and man. Marriage is a wonderful thing. It is a sacred vow to spend your life with one person for all eternity and to stick with each other through thick and thin", he turns and takes the ring from the ring bearer who is also dressed like a priest.
Now I am more than sure that Ryan doesn't have a friend either. Isn't the ring bearer supposed to be his best man?
Stretching the first ring to Ryan, he demands. "You may now exchange the vows."
Ryan takes the ring with confidence, as though he really wants this marriage and does not need it.
He turns back to face me after taking the ring from the priest and opens his left palm wide for me to place my fingers on while the other hand is holding the diamond ring.
I'm sure that costs a fortune. So much for getting married to a billionaire.
I am sure this is the time my mother's breath will be on hold. She knows me so well and she knows how much she had tried to convince me to go ahead with the wedding.
She might think I agreed because I have plans to humiliate the two families by telling the whole audience that this is an arranged marriage and Ryan and I are not in love but I won't do that because I have something to gain from this, really.
Slowly, I place my left hand on his open palms and he opens his mouth to voice out his vows in a loud tone.
"In the name of God, I, Ryan Lorenzo, take you, Valerie Adams, as my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part." He slips the diamond ring into my middle finger and I almost laugh.
Why did that vow sound emotional? Is this the time when I am supposed to cry?
I am making an effort to suck in my laughter and not let it out.
"Valerie", his harsh tone pulls me out of my thoughts. This is when I realize that it is time for me to say my vows too.
The priest is watching me intently with the second ring stretched at me.
Other than Ryan's voice, the big hall filled with thousands of people is in complete silence and a pin drop can be heard. I don't know if this is just from my imagination or if it is because everybody is anxious to see us both get married without any problem.
I take the ring from the priest and my hand shakes.
Then it dawns on me.
I am getting married. Whether the contract will be involved or not does not matter right now. I am truly getting married.
To Ryan Lorenzo.
A man I don't love. A man I never thought I would cross paths with or share any ideas with.
This is not Fred.
I have always wanted Fred to propose marriage to me. I didn't want to give him the idea that I want us to get married because I wanted him to think of it himself and propose without anyone's interference.
Apart from the fact that I am still young, I wouldn't have considered marrying anybody but Fred willingly at this age.
Getting married to Ryan at this age is because I have no choice.
I am truly getting married to someone who isn't Fred, the man I have noved with everything in me since I was 20 years old.
He is my first love and I doubt if his betrayal will ever make me love another man.
When this marriage is over, I will try dating again, maybe I will find someone who is more honest and ready to give me what I want; a marriage filled with nothing but love and laughter.
By then, I will be old enough, no longer considered young.
"In the name of God, I, Valerie Adams take you, Ryan Lorenzo, as my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death does us part." I slip the diamond ring into his middle finger just like he did to me a few minutes ago.
I hear a sigh of relief from Ryan and I stare up at him as he yanks his hand from my hold and another round of applause takes over.
There are screams of excitement from the crowd and I snap my head toward where my dad is sitting with my mother.
Mother is waving at me with pride while Father's face is expressionless. He simply nods at me and smiles.
When the excitement dies down and I have my gaze fixed on the floor between Ryan and me, my thoughts all over the place, the priest clears his throat.
"With the power vested in me, I pronounce you, man and wife. You may now kiss the bride."
I didn't remember this part of the wedding process and I lift my head with my eyes almost bulging out.
Ryan will kiss me?
No!
Fred is the only man who has kissed me and I can't kiss a man I don't love.
The whiff of cologne from his tuxedo jerks me back to life as he lifts my veil to reveal my real face.
My jaws dropped and my heart is pounding hard, wondering if he is truly going to kiss me.
When he leans forward, I know I have to do something. I can't let him kiss me. We aren't in love. We are just married.
He wants to do this to make it real but I won't allow that.
Before his lips will touch mine, the thought of pushing him away jumps into my head but I shake my head to wave it away.
Instead, I turn my face away, and the cheap kiss of his lands on my left cheek.
He pulls away almost immediately, surprised at my reaction as he throws me a cold glare.
And I grin with pride.
Ryan's POVThe door is locked.My hand is on the doorknob still. Then I turn it again but it won't budge.It has been locked from the inside. Without thinking of a single reason why the woman I just got married to a few hours ago is locking me outside my own bedroom, I raise my hand to knock.The knock is loud enough to wake the dead. She can't possibly tell me that she locked the door and slept off. I only spent thirty minutes outside trying to let everything sink into my head and also to think of what to do after this damn thing is over.I have been trying to get over how she ridiculed me at the church wedding. She didn't let me kiss her on the lips. Isn't that part of the pretense? We are to make believe that we are real and beginning to like each other, isn't this what she said?I felt humiliated. What if someone had seen that?Fortunately, no one was quick to observe anything between us. Not even the tension and despise we feel for each other.There is no answer."Valerie, open t
Valerie's POVDetermined to get on his nerves tonight, I lay sprawled on the bed fully clothed. The moment the shower goes off, I close my eyes to pretend that I am asleep.I can't let him sleep with me on the same bed. We can't share the same bed.I love my privacy and space. I never had any reason to share a bed with anyone, except Fred and I am not ready to get to that stage with Ryan.I know we are supposed to sign the contract tonight but I am seriously not going to give him the chance to sweet-talk me into letting him sleep here tonight.The bathroom door opens and I imagine him coming out of the bathroom with a bare chest trailing with water from his wet hair and a towel wrapped around his waist.I imagine the glare he will throw my way when he notices I'm already asleep on the bed, sprawled with my legs apart to prevent him from getting into bed with me.Today is our first night as a couple and I want us to stick to the rules of the contract to ease the whole period we will be
Ryan's POVShe practically jumps on me, scaring the shit out of me. I sit up immediately, letting her slide down with a big grin on her face."What was that for?"She shrugs nonchalantly like she hasn't done anything wrong."I need to sleep", I almost add, please. I am already tired of arguing back and forth with her. It is obvious she isn't going to let me be."Please?" She demands, raising her brow. This is when I notice her hand on mine. I yank my hand off immediately.Turning back to the bed, I comment. "Please."Then, I lay down, hoping she will let me be now."I didn't ask you to sleep yet", she jumps down from the bed and drags me up. Now I am more than convinced that she jumps for a living. Why the hell is she jumping like a monkey all over the place? What does she even do for a living?I know I married a stranger but I should have asked her if she had a job so she won't be a complete liability. Having to help her parents is enough."We need to sign the contract first of all…
Valerie's POV My nose twitches and my eyes flick open, the rays of the sun setting on my skin. I sit up and glance around as the memories of yesterday's event come rushing as well as last night. I turn to the curtains to see them open. Did Ryan open them? I look towards the door and it is still locked. Maybe the curtains were drawled to their sides last night. I get out of bed and move towards the door, rubbing my two hands on my eyes to rub off the sleep. I am damn hungry and I could eat a horse right now. I unlock the door and get out. Finding my way to the kitchen, I get to the living room and my eyes fall on Ryan sleeping on the floor with his blanket hanging on his leg, half of it on the couch. Did he fall from the couch or he purposely slept on the floor? I almost chuckle at the sight of him sleeping with his legs apart. I know he might want to go to work since there is no talk of a honeymoon and I really don't want him around for the whole day. Maybe I should wake him
Ryan's POVLike an erupting volcano, I burst into my parent's mansion with anger coursing through me and stormy red eyes.I stalk towards the second living room when no one is in sight the moment I enter, except for the maids whom I do not feel like talking to.The person I want to see is my mother. And dad.They both caused this. If only they didn't try to force me or blackmail me into marrying that crazy woman in the penthouse, maybe I won't be this frustrated, angry, and sad, and I would probably be on my way to work, excited for a new day's challenge.They caused this so they should answer for this.During the wedding yesterday, I realized mother was the one behind it all. She was the one who reminded my dad about it and pushed him to force me into this.This is just unfair. This is unfair.This is sheer wickedness.Just before I get to the living room, Nita appears. When she spots me, she smiles and waves her hand but I shove her away and enter to see mom sitting on her usual cha
Valerie's POVFrederick is the type of man who loves a woman with everything he possesses. He was the exact type of man I wanted; one who loves fiercely and passionately. One who loves me for who I am. One who doesn't criticize my shortcomings but accepts and loves them as well.A man who looks at me and smiles for no reason. A man who loves even my dirtiest moment.That is Fred.This is the exact definition of Fred. He is that man. And it was so hard not to fall deeply in love with him.The way he loves me, the way he smiles at me, and the way he shuts me up with a kiss whenever I am in the mood for an argument always gets me weak in the legs.I keep loving him every single day for loving me despite everything.But one thing is an obstacle.His cheating nature.I doubt if Fred would ever stop doing that. Being with Brenda is what broke the camel's back and I don't ever want to be with him again, even though it hurts.It hurts so much.My heart hurts. It feels like a fire is in my hea
Ryan's POVMy gaze darts outside the car window, watching the rain pattering and the droplets sliding down the window as I ignore the fear consuming my insides.I left the office before the rain began so I could come back to my parent's mansion to see mom or dad.But on second thought, I decided to see Anita instead. Mom will never tell me what it is. Dad must have sworn to secrecy never to tell me either and it's breaking me. Curiosity is killing me.My mother is dying and I didn't even notice a strange thing? Is this how much I have distanced myself from my family?What exactly is happening? Where exactly is it hurting? Why did Anita use the word "dying" instead of sick? Is it something incurable? Mother doesn't even look sick. She looks as healthy as always. She even looks more beautiful recently and the thought of it almost makes me tear up.My mother can't die. No.I will do everything in my power to see to it that she survives this but first I need to know the source of the ai
Valerie's POVIt thunders continuously and I scramble out of bed with agitation. This is the third time I am getting out of bed because of the scary rambling of the thunder.Right now, I am done with the idea of sleeping alone in this goddamn cold room.When I was home, whenever it rains and there is thunder, I always run to my parent's room. Whenever I feel uncomfortable running over to them, I take solace in Fred.That fucking idiot.Now I hate him so much for thinking I will overlook what he did with Brenda simply because she was the one who seduced him.How could he allow her to do that to him on two different occasions and he expects me to take him back?If I hadn't gotten married to a man like Ryan, would he have called me so we could meet?Even though my heart still beats for him, I want to get rid of all the memories I had with him and I know the best way to do that is to have good times with someone else so it will be easier to erase the ones I had with Fred.It will be quite